Rileys First Day of 2nd Grade

     Riley was really excited about her first day of 2nd grade and got ready quickly! She wanted to take her teacher a bouquet from the garden so we picked one and she carried it there herself. It is a beautiful cool morning and we have opened up the windows. I can't wait to hear about her day when she comes home

    August starts Preschool on September 3rd.

This and That

Marion: July 20 &21

 Summer is a fun time to get together with family.  We also really love going to the Cedar Rapids farmers market. It is fun to walk around and chat while eating freshly fried donuts and buying some fantastic BBQ sauce for later! 

   It is fun to see how our nieces and nephew are growing and to see everyone playing together. The time is going too fast! 

Ottumwa: August 5-7

  

We squeezed in another visit so we could all have some time together before school starts. The kids enjoyed playing in the kids pool and playing with some kittens that Stacy has right now. Riley has since asked for a kitten.

 At Home:

Riley lost both front teeth this summer!

Grandma Nancy Visits Ames: August 12-14

  We had a great visit just before the start of the school year.  We spent a morning at the zoo and had a picnic afterward.  We took the kids to the park on a nice cool morning and the kids played for a long time while Mom and I chatted on a bench.
 

 After this the kids visited with their other grandparents in Marion and Keenan and I had some couple time. It is always refreshing to just have time for the two of us to chat and enjoy each others company. It helped that I knew that the kids were having an amazing time!

The rest of the summer has gone so quickly! Earlier this year we had a great vacation in Colorado making memories together, visited the Aquatic Center, a baseball game ,and The Blank Park Zoo. I have enjoyed being in the garden, taking the kids to the park, and the library. I have watched them practice riding their bikes and tried to soak in the nice quiet mornings together. I am not ready for it to end...but school starts on Friday.

   The kids are excited to meet their teachers and make new friends. I have bought the supplies and entered the school calendar into our personal one. Riley is starting 1st grade soon and August is going to 4 year old preschool.